Ok, I see what my confusion was. So the moto card I have has the correct version for the roamio? I didn't see any reference to it. I see that Lessd said it's working but is the FW I have the current (latest)

I got my Roamio last November and had a problem with it rebooting to start but got a new cable card then it was fine up until last months software update. Now tuner 5 and 6 will not authorize so I keep missing shows. I have tried everything and like others only able to fix it by switching to 4 tuners.

I have PKEY 1.5.2_F.p.3001 and my local comcast office doesn't seem to know anything about it and says they only have that type card. How do you get a newer card? I live in Connecticut and use the Clinton comcast office. Does my local comcast office have to support this card type or can I get it from a different place?

It really sucks because I spent a lot of money on this and got a life time sub. The only plus to it right now is that its 5 times faster than my old 4 tuner premiere.

I got my Roamio last November and had a problem with it rebooting to start but got a new cable card then it was fine up until last months software update. Now tuner 5 and 6 will not authorize so I keep missing shows. I have tried everything and like others only able to fix it by switching to 4 tuners. I have PKEY 1.5.2_F.p.3001 and my local comcast office doesn't seem to know anything about it and says they only have that type card. How do you get a newer card? I live in Connecticut and use the Clinton comcast office. Does my local comcast office have to support this card type or can I get it from a different place? It really sucks because I spent a lot of money on this and got a life time sub. The only plus to it right now is that its 5 times faster than my old 4 tuner premiere.

You don't need a new card. You just need your current card's firmware updated to at least PKEY 1.5.3_F.p.0601 at the minimum or preferably PKEY 1.5.3_F.p.1101. Most have gotten success by filing a claim with the FCC that your local office isn't supporting 6 tuners on Cablecard when they're offering 6 tuner DVRs. Also I've heard people have had success contacting @comcastcares.

So if I plug my TV straight into the wall, I get a bunch of channels (I'm assuming this is from the digital tuner in my TV??). However, I can't get my tivo connected because it won't work at all without a cablecard (I don't pay for any cable service, just COX internet). If I get one of the ebay cablecards, will I then be able to tune my tivo to all these same channels as my TV is getting?!

So if I plug my TV straight into the wall, I get a bunch of channels (I'm assuming this is from the digital tuner in my TV??). However, I can't get my tivo connected because it won't work at all without a cablecard (I don't pay for any cable service, just COX internet). If I get one of the ebay cablecards, will I then be able to tune my tivo to all these same channels as my TV is getting?!

As far as I know the cable card has to be activated by your service provider. Most cable systems won't let you own your own cable card anyway. You would have rent a card from your service provider to get the channel mapping info you need for the TiVo guide to work and know where the channels are. You can call COX and ask them if you can get your own card activated or not. Best to do that before you buy one off ebay.

As far as I know the cable card has to be activated by your service provider. Most cable systems won't let you own your own cable card anyway. You would have rent a card from your service provider to get the channel mapping info you need for the TiVo guide to work and know where the channels are. You can call COX and ask them if you can get your own card activated or not. Best to do that before you buy one off ebay.

I read in a thread elsewhere on this site that the ebay card is simply a way to trick the tivo unit into mapping the free channels which are available, since it does not allow you to do so without a card installed?

I read in a thread elsewhere on this site that the ebay card is simply a way to trick the tivo unit into mapping the free channels which are available, since it does not allow you to do so without a card installed?

For Comcast systems the card would have to have been first activated by the same head end as you system has, then the card will work in your system for the expanded ch if that what was original activated. However a Comcast tech told me the cards have a 45 or 60 day time out if not activated and getting a signal from the head end. If the seller of the card had canceled service on the card that 45 to 60 day may brick your card. YMMV by system.

I have gotten TiVos to upgrade with a cable card installed from a different cable system than I have, I could not get any ch as the TiVo would just keep saying acquiring ch, after 12 hours I gave up. The card was the same Moto card used in my own system but that convinced me not to even try purchasing any card from E-Bay.

So if I plug my TV straight into the wall, I get a bunch of channels (I'm assuming this is from the digital tuner in my TV??). However, I can't get my tivo connected because it won't work at all without a cablecard (I don't pay for any cable service, just COX internet). If I get one of the ebay cablecards, will I then be able to tune my tivo to all these same channels as my TV is getting?!

Your TV is most likely picking up the "Clear QAM" channels provided by your cable company. These are unencrypted digital channels that are using the Clear QAM protocol. TIVO does not support Clear QAM, but instead requires a cable card, activated by your cable company.

Your TV is most likely picking up the "Clear QAM" channels provided by your cable company. These are unencrypted digital channels that are using the Clear QAM protocol. TIVO does not support Clear QAM, but instead requires a cable card, activated by your cable company.

I never tried with the Roamio but the Premiere sure does support clear QAM, as of now Comcast (in my area) has encrypted all ch so I can't test out if the Roamio does support clear QAM.

Except for some small cable companies that allow you to buy cablecards from them, isn't it a pretty good bet that any cablecard bought on eBay/CraigsList/whatever is stolen? The whole idea of cablecards is to put authentication in a card rather than requiring the user to rent a set-top box, so it make sense (to me, anyway), that cable companies want to be able to control the cards on their system.

Except for some small cable companies that allow you to buy cablecards from them, isn't it a pretty good bet that any cablecard bought on eBay/CraigsList/whatever is stolen? The whole idea of cablecards is to put authentication in a card rather than requiring the user to rent a set-top box, so it make sense (to me, anyway), that cable companies want to be able to control the cards on their system.

May not be stolen, just not returned when the cable service was canceled, the person moved and did not think to take the cable card out of the TiVo, may have even been charged for the cable card, so now try to sell it.

That's just plain wrong. You are allowed to own any piece of hardware (let's not get carried away with weapons and military items). You can in fact purchase a cablecard to avoid the monthly "lease" fee, and it is in fact law that the cable company must allow you to do so. However, you cannot just buy a card and expect to be able to "steal" tv. It doesn't work that way.

You can in fact purchase a cablecard to avoid the monthly "lease" fee, and it is in fact law that the cable company must allow you to do so.

Yes, your cable company cannot interfere with you buying a cablecard on Ebay - that much is true. They are under no obligation whatsoever to allow you to buy a cablecard that will work on their system, however. There is no law that states otherwise.

That's just plain wrong. You are allowed to own any piece of hardware (let's not get carried away with weapons and military items). You can in fact purchase a cablecard to avoid the monthly "lease" fee, and it is in fact law that the cable company must allow you to do so. However, you cannot just buy a card and expect to be able to "steal" tv. It doesn't work that way.

You move and forget to take out and return the cable card in your TiVo, the cable co charges you for the cable card and you pay them. Now do you own the cable card ?? I not saying you can use that card to steal cable just that you own the card and now can sell it.

That's just plain wrong. You are allowed to own any piece of hardware (let's not get carried away with weapons and military items). You can in fact purchase a cablecard to avoid the monthly "lease" fee, and it is in fact law that the cable company must allow you to do so. However, you cannot just buy a card and expect to be able to "steal" tv. It doesn't work that way.

Ever since I added a second mini to my roamio this problem has increased to the point where I had to call comcast. I got absolutely nowhere.

I have a SA/Cisco Cable Card PKM800 with 1.5.2.F.F.p.3001 made 7/6/2011

I had to call because recording were not being made due to unauthorized channels I am supposed to get. After talking to not only tier 2 comcast tech support, the cable card dept at comcast, and many other tech people at comcast - they didn't know anything about any firm ware updating for cable cards. The cable card department only knows how to pair cable cards to tivo. I am in Fauquier County Virginia.

Finally Comcast transferred me to Tivo. Tivo had no contacts or ways at comcast for the newer firm ware pushed out to me. They could only recommend going to the my local comcast office and exchange for a newer cable card that hopefully will have the latest firm ware that can handle a 6 tuner Roamio.

Ever since I added a second mini to my roamio this problem has increased to the point where I had to call comcast. I got absolutely nowhere.

I have a SA/Cisco Cable Card PKM800 with 1.5.2.F.F.p.3001 made 7/6/2011

I had to call because recording were not being made due to unauthorized channels I am supposed to get. After talking to not only tier 2 comcast tech support, the cable card dept at comcast, and many other tech people at comcast - they didn't know anything about any firm ware updating for cable cards. The cable card department only knows how to pair cable cards to tivo. I am in Fauquier County Virginia.

Finally Comcast transferred me to Tivo. Tivo had no contacts or ways at comcast for the newer firm ware pushed out to me. They could only recommend going to the my local comcast office and exchange for a newer cable card that hopefully will have the latest firm ware that can handle a 6 tuner Roamio.

Thanks! JolDC for the link. I just saw ComcastTeds thread at comcast. Hopefully this will save me a trip and further frustration with missing recordings and having to deal with multiple unaware comcast customer service reps. at comcast. Poor Tivo has to deal with this. I think many customers will probably give up and sell or return their tivos because of this.